Improving lives with essential oils, one drop at a time.

As a home-school mom I am always looking for fun things to do with our boys. I honestly love anything where we can be really hands on and maybe even get our hands a little dirty.

Yep, I am that mom. The one who is willing to make a mess for fun. I am always coming up with some crazy fun activity for us to do together.

Although, as we add more and more kiddos to our family, my fun activities get less and less messy. Haha. Funny how that works out. 😉

This month our youngest son turned 5! Wow! A whole hand old! 5 meant we needed some extra special playdoh to play with! So we brought out the glitter and essential oils and jumped in!

We had a blast making this playdoh! Not only did it smell amazing, but it is the softest playdoh you will ever play with. We used ultra fine glitter so we didn’t need any food coloring at all.

We simply threw all of the ingredients in a pot and then the boys helped me stir….and stir….and stir…..and stir…until you get a doh-ball that is pulling away from the sides of your pot.

Bonus Tip: You can totally skip your arm workout on playdoh making day. Put a little mom muscle into it and you’ll have the best playdoh ever!

Once your playdoh begins to pull away from the sides of the pan you can dump it out on the counter. Be sure to let it cool a bit and then you are ready to knead it. Knead until it is soft and squishy. I added a little extra flour during this process just to help it not be sticky at all.

When your dough is cool, soft, and squishy divide it into several doh-balls and choose as many colors and smells you want. We chose to do 6. We had 6 different colors of glitter so we picked 6 essential oils to match each color.

Add about 8-10 drops of essential oil (less for peppermint) to your playdoh and knead away. We just mixed in enough glitter to get the playdoh to the color wanted.

The boys LOVED it!

They loved getting to play with the warm dough and mix all the colors and oils into it.

This has been our favorite playdoh recipe so far. 2 weeks later and our pladoh still smells amazing!

We love anything that is a total sensory experience and I love that the boys get to touch and smell their playdoh. It smells good enough to eat, and although it is safe to eat it sure doesn’t taste good (you can ask two of my boys about that. Haha!).

Essential Oils Infused Playdoh

Ingredients:

1 cup of warm water

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil (we used grapeseed oil and it worked great!)

1/2 cup salt

1 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar

Fine Glitter

1 cup Flour

Young Living Essential Oils (we added in 8-10 drops of each oil, except peppermint, we only needed to use 5 drops of peppermint)

Directions:

Combine water, oil, salt, and cream of tartar in a saucepan and heat until warm.

Remove from heat and add flour.

Stir together until doh ball forms and then remove from pan and knead until smooth.

Mix in as much glitter as you want.

Add in 8-10 drops of essential oil and knead until well mixed.

Store in glass mason jars. This playdoh recipe will last 6 months or longer.

Now it is time to play with and enjoy your playdoh!

We sure had a blast making this playdoh. It made the best mountain for the boys’ dinosaur adventures. 🙂

I am always looking for fun new activities to do with the boys and I would love to know, what are your favorite DIY recipes to use with your kids?

Going green. It’s a trendy phrase, isn’t it? It sounds nice to say that you’re going to try to be more green. But what does that really mean? I mean, what tangible changes do you have to make in order to be “green”?

Wow, I feel like I say this every month but I literally cannot believe it’s already April! Summer is rapidly approaching!

When you have 3 boys you pretty much live outside in the summer! From fishing to campouts to sports or just exploring all of God’s goodness we are always playing in the sun, the dirt, or the water so this momma better be prepared. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite summer products and DIY recipes.

SUN:

In-the-Sun Protection:

Since we are in it every single day, lets’ start with the sun! Not sure about you but the more I read about sunscreen the more I want to steer clear of it. Toxic chemicals that increase risk for cancer, possible changes in hormones and more, I just don’t want to have anything to do with that for my family or me. If you are a researcher and want to read more, here you go. http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/

So you can go with as simple or complex as you want with your recipes. Carrot seed EO alone has a SPF of 38-40, which is why it is often used in natural sun protection recipes. I’ve tried using just coconut oil with YL Carrot Seed oil. It worked great but I did not love the “carroty” smell. Here’s a simple recipe with Lavender added for skin and it’s a little better smelling.

Easy Greasy Sun Protection Recipe

Small glass container with lid

2 oz Coconut Oil

20 drops YL Carrot Seed

10 drops YL Lavender

I have a deep love for YL’s Lavender Hand & Body Lotion so when I heard the idea to mix YL Lavender, YL Carrot Seed, a little bit of raspberry seed oil in about ¼ of the bottle of YL’s Lavender Hand & Body Lotion I had to give it a try. It was easy and more like a “sunscreen” feel. To see another recipe for great sun protection click here. I think I may also try this one this year!

After Sun Skin Care:

My first amazing experience with essential oils was when I burned my neck with my curling iron, ouch! I remembered a story a friend had shared about a chemical burn on her little boys face and she used lavender. I quickly went and got Lavender out of my newly purchased kit and applied it to the burn. Wow! It instantly took away the sting and calmed by skin. I was then and am still constantly amazed by these wonderful oils. Since then Lavender has come to my rescue so many times with all my boys. Lavender is perhaps one of the most highly recommended oils for burns whether from fire or the sun. Here’s a great recipe for after being out in the sun. You can leave out peppermint if it is too intense for you; otherwise enjoy the coolness it brings to your skin.

After Sun Spray

½ C witch hazel

2 T aloe vera gel

10 drops YL Lavender

10 drops YL peppermint

4 oz spray bottle

BUGS:

I don’t know about you but I love summertime but sure do not enjoy all the bugs it brings along. Mosquitoes, Spiders & Ticks oh my! I hate them all!

Here are some great recipes for those little buggers!

No More Mosquito Spray:

BPA free spray bottle

2 C water

5 drops YL Lemon EO

10 drops YL Basil EO

20 drops YL Citronella EO

Mix together and spray on and around you.

Ticks Hate Me Spray:

20 drops YL Lemongrass EO

20 drops YL Eucalyptus EO

4 oz water

Spray bottle & shake well

(Spray on shoes socks and pant cuffs)

Helpful tip: If you get a tick bite, place a drop of any of the following (Palo Santo, peppermint, Cinnamon bark, tea tree, thyme, oregano,) and wait for the tick to release. After it is removed any of the oils listed above plus thieves or clove are beneficial as they are immune stimulating.

PLAYTIME:

Oops, I did it again First Aid Spray

2 oz water

5 drops YL Frankincense

5 drops YL Lavender

2 Oz Neutral Spirits

20 drops YL Melrose

5 drops YL Copaiba

Combine in 4 oz spray bottle and apply to wounds as needed to cleanse and protect.

I like to apply Animal Scents ointment over spray as well.

Swimmer, Diver and Puddle Jumper Ears

Step 1

1 Oz apple Cider Vinegar

1 drop YL Lavender EO

1 oz distilled water

1 drop YL Tea Tree EO

Combine ingredients in 2 oz glass bottle with dropper. Apply 1 dropper full to ear with head tilted, allow solution to move past blockage, once you “feel” this, tilt head to other side and let the fluid drain. Repeat with other ear.

Especially after those long summer days outside we LOVE Young Living’s KidScents line. We use the shampoo, bath gel, lotion and toothpaste! They work great and I feel so good about using them for my boys!

DETOX TIME:

We come in contact with toxins wherever we go all year around; from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the pools we swim in etc. About a year ago I read an article about benefits of a detox bath and we’ve been doing them ever since. It’s one of the first things we try if one of us starts to feel under the weather but even when we are perfectly healthy we try to take one about every two weeks or so. Here’s a great website on the benefits of it and how to do it. http://healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2012/01/detoxification-part-i-healing-waters.html

My Basic Detox bath:

Add ¼- ½ C baking soda as you are filling up the bath with water. Mix together 1.5-2 C dead sea salt or Epsom salt with about 7-10 drops of chosen essential oils and 1-tablespoon coconut oil. (Good ideas to try are Lavender, Lemon, Thieves, RC, Purification or whatever you want to try) Sprinkle mixture throughout the water, get in and relax. Stay in bath for at least 25 minutes.

*Make sure you do not use soaps or lotions after a detox because your pores are open and you would be putting toxins right back into your body. Also, drink plenty of water to continue flushing out toxins.

I hope you enjoyed this post and find it helpful. I’d love to hear from you if you have any topics you would like to learn about!

Several of you are new to essential oils and sometimes when you open that awesome box it can be a little overwhelming if you aren’t one to just jump right in. I wanted to just give ideas of some different ways to use these fabulous little bottles of oil you possess. It is important to note I don’t do everything mentioned below every single day but some are a part of my regular daily routine. Also, I’ve been using oils for over 2 years now so it’s taken a while to learn all of these ways to use them. I am constantly learning about oils and love learning about new ways to use them.

The point of this post is not to overwhelm you but instead to challenge you to go ahead and open the box. As you try them, you will discover which ones are most beneficial to you!

What does a typical day look like?

7am: Glass of water with drop or 2 of Lemon or Grapefruit before my much needed morning coffee!

815am: Breakfast on the table for my boys and then start diffusing something-depends on the day and what’s going on. A few of my favs are Peppermint to wake me up, Purification & Orange because I just love it, Stress Away (don’t judge-I know its early but preparation for the marathon morning of getting 3 boys dressed, ready and off to school on time) or many other combinations.

830am: Time for me to get ready- wash face with Young Livings V-6 oil and Purification & Orange or ART facial cleanser if I have it (love both) then use my favorite facial moisturizer recipe.

845am: Last step to getting boys ready is applying oils to feet before school. These oils vary day to day usually including an immune supporting oil or something specific to what is each going through that day. I love Basil, Thieves, Immupower, Lemon, and Harmony among others. For my oldest in Kindergarten, I made up a Focus roll-on I apply to his big toes each day. It is a combination of Lemon, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Lavender and Frankincense.

9am: Headed to school, sometimes I put Valor or Joy in my car diffuser (AKA wooden clothes pin with a drop or 2 of chosen oil and clipped to the air vent)

10am: During my 2 hours of time with just 2 cute boys or alone time, depending on the day I will just go smell Rose Oil just because of all its benefits, apply Magnify your purpose, Believe and/or Abundance, Envision, Frankincense, Inspiration, Peace & Calming or any others I may need.

12pm: Lunch & mid day supplements if I’m on my game. I often use one or any combo of several oils: GLF, Copaiba, Lavender, DiGize, Dill, Thieves, Endoflex, Lemongrass etc.

1-5pm: Play with boys- Valor, Joy & Harmony are my favorites to apply to our wrists as we enjoy time together. Finally getting around to straightening up after lunch I use my Thieves Household cleaner to clean countertops etc. Homework time with my oldest diffuse or apply Lemon oil as it helps with memory.

I may start a load of laundry with Thieves Laundry soap and replacement dryer sheets made of cotton cloth with several safety pins attached and several drops of purification or other favorite scent. Mix up baking soda with 10-15 drops of chosen smell (I like Citrus Fresh & Peppermint) and sprinkle on to carpet before vacuuming.

530pm I’m interested in using essential oils during cooking but I have overdone it a few times so I’m a little gun shy now. I would love to hear from you all in this area! I have learned often not even 1 drop is needed in most recipes. A little goes a long way. One idea I heard was to use a toothpick dipped in your oil and stirred around (that was for Oregano in spaghetti). Young Living just came out with the Vitality line of dietary essential oils. I have some on my next Essential Rewards order!

830pm: Attempting to wind down, I diffuse and/or apply Cedarwood and Lavender to my boys before bed. I have a diffuser in their room so I will usually diffuse something as they sleep, depending on what I think they need.

930pm: I usually make a capsule for my husband and I especially if I didn’t take the time to do it earlier in the day. The capsule varies on the day and person but usually include an immune supporting oil among others.

I recently got an iTovi scanner and we use that if we are curious what oils would be good for us. The link explains how it works to inform you what oils can give you the support your body needs. I’m planning to have a day to offer free scans to those on our team soon!

Oils don’t work if you don’t use them…

I hope this has been helpful for you. If you aren’t sure how to use a specific oil, just apply to bottoms of your feet and it will be in your entire system in about 25 minutes. The funny thing about these oils is if you don’t use them they just won’t work!

Please know there are various ways to use your oils and you are not limited to what I’ve shared today. When you are ready, take charge of your own health and discover for yourself just how powerful these bottles really are! You can start by getting a pocket reference. Get one here. My personal favorite is the bigger desk reference. Also, I would also love to hear your favorite ways to use your oils! If you want to share please comment below or email me at ash.mccaslinyl@gmail.com.

Since it’s February I thought it would be the perfect month to share about Rose essential oil and why it’s so amazing!

I am super blessed with a very thoughtful husband that splurged and surprised me big time with a bottle of ROSE last year for Valentine’s Day! We aren’t big V-Day people so he really caught me off guard and he was pretty proud of himself too;) I never actually thought I would own Rose oil because well, let’s be honest, it’s pretty pricey! I started looking more into it since I had a bottle and found out why it’s worth every penny!

What is actually in Young Living’s Rose oil?!

Roses! A whole lot of them! According to Gentle Babies by Debra Raybern it takes approximately 5000 pounds of rose petals to make 1 pound of Rose essential oil! One pound of liquid equals 453.59 milliliters. So it takes 5000 pounds of distilled rose petals to make about only 90 (5ml) bottles of Rose essential oil. When only one drop of Rose oil is equal to 60 roses you can see why it one of the most expensive oils in the world! Now let me tell you why it’s also one of the most remarkable ones too.

Roses are Red!

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or even better, just a random Tuesday, think about how you feel when someone gets you roses! Why is this? They make us feel special, loved, cheerful and romantic! That’s exactly what the fragrant influence of Rose oil does for you. It’s a beautifully intoxicating and highly floral scent that brings about harmony, lightness of spirit, confidence, love and balance to your heart. There are entire books written about the healing attributes of rose water -the remnants of the distillation process of roses.

What the Frequency?

Frequency is defined as the rate at which a vibration occurs between any two points. When there is frequency there is electromagnetic potential and everything has an electrical frequency. It is believed that a healthy body typically has a frequency that ranges between 62-78 MHz. Sickness and disease begin at about 57-60 MHz. Clinical research shows essential oils have the highest frequency of any natural substance known to man and can create an environment in which microbes (AKA germs, virus, bugs etc) cannot survive. We can raise and lower our frequency by what we put in our bodies. For example, a researcher Bruce Tainio of Tainio Technology in Ohio found that processed food/canned food has a frequency of zero MHz, fresh foods 20-27 MHz, dry herbs from 15-22 MHz and fresh herbs from 20-27 MHz. The frequencies of essential oils start at 52 MHz and go to 320 MHz, (which happens to be the frequency of Rose oil)! Wow! Studies have also shown our thoughts and attitudes can influence our frequencies as well. Negative thoughts lowered frequency by 12 MHz, positive thoughts raised frequency by 10 MHz and prayer and meditation raised level of frequency by 15 MHz.

In Short here’s My Tue Scents

To keep your healthy frequencies: eat right, drink plenty of water, exercise, get enough sleep, read or listen to something uplifting, pray, think positive, and use essential oils! If you are struggling or having a bad day go open your favorite bottle of essential oil and put on a drop or take a few breaths in to raise your frequency! Some high frequency oils are Rose, Frankincense, Joy, Helichrysum, Forgiveness, Thieves, and Inspiration just to name a few!

Add essential oils to a 1 oz amber bottle fitted with a glass dropper. Pour in the carrier oil you are using. I personally use avocado oil as the carrier oil for my face. It works well with my skin. If you prefer another carrier then use that.

Words from Young Living diamonds about Rose:

*Just before going to bed, I like to put rose oil on the center of my forehead, over my heart, on my brain stem, and under my nose. This gives me the most restful sleep imaginable! When I wake up the next morning, I feel like I’ve been on vacation for weeks.

*We use Rose in a roll-on blend with Frankincense, Lavender and others for immune support!

* When I’m out of sorts or feel non-present, I love to inhale rose oil.

*Terrific skin-supporting properties for all types of skin

*Emotional support

*Perfect oil to use when worrying about the past. It opens the heart and the mind.

I hope next time you get roses you enjoy them just a little bit more! Or just ask him to just buy a bottle of Rose instead and be off the hook for the next 5 Valentine’s Days! He can even just set it each year as a reminder of how great he is!

Blessings,

Ashley

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The information or products on this site are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information and views represented here are my own personal views and not necessarily those of Young Living. The information posted on this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Information obtained here is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own wellness care and dietary decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with your health care provider.